Kade's figure was a dark silhouette against the smoldering backdrop of the collapsed building. The cold gleam in his eyes sent a shiver down Seojin's spine. He was unphased by the wreckage around him, like he was waiting for them to fall into line.
"Looks like you've seen better days," Kade said, his voice dripping with mockery. "But I'm not here to gloat."
Seojin kept her weapon raised. "Then why are you here?"
Kade raised an eyebrow, as though surprised by her hostility. "I think we both know why." He gestured to Jinho, who was still unconscious in Seojin's arms. "I need the list. And I believe you've come across it. Or at least part of it."
Seojin's jaw tightened. "Not so fast. We're not handing it over to some random stranger."
Kade chuckled, a low, humorless sound. "I'm not 'random.'"
He stepped forward, making Seojin instinctively back away. The other men with him followed suit, their eyes scanning the group like hungry wolves waiting for the kill.
"We both have common enemies. The Phoenix is just one of them," Kade continued. "What I want is information. Something that could shift the balance of power. I know what you have, and I know it's important."
Seojin didn't lower her gun. "I don't care what you know or what you think you're after. You'll have to kill me first."
Kade's expression grew cold. "I didn't want it to come to this. But your refusal only makes this more complicated."
As he finished speaking, his men began to spread out, closing in from all angles. It was clear they weren't here to negotiate.
Minji raised her gun, pointing it at Kade's head. "If you're going to shoot, shoot. But don't waste our time with your riddles."
Kade's eyes flicked to her, then back to Seojin. His mouth twitched in a half-smile. "You have guts, I'll give you that. But you won't win this fight."
Seojin hesitated, her instincts screaming that there was more to this man than met the eye. He's not just another Phoenix operative.
Suddenly, her earpiece crackled to life. "Seojin, you need to get out of there. Now."
Jiwon's voice was urgent, and it made her stomach drop. "What's going on?" she asked, not lowering her gun.
"The Phoenix is already tracking your location," Jiwon said quickly. "They know you're there, and they're sending reinforcements. You're running out of time."
Seojin's eyes flicked back to Kade. "You're not the only one who's being hunted, you know."
Kade narrowed his gaze. "The Phoenix might be after you, but you have no idea how deep this goes. If you want to survive, you'll have to trust me."
Seojin's mind raced. Trust him? She didn't even know who he was. But the urgency in Jiwon's voice gnawed at her.
"Trust you?" Seojin scoffed. "You've got a gun pointed at my head, and you expect trust?"
"I'm giving you a choice," Kade replied, his voice almost casual. "You can continue fighting me, and we both get killed, or we can work together and stop the Phoenix for good."
Seojin hesitated. The Phoenix had made moves before, but this time, the stakes were higher. The list, if it really existed, was crucial. It was the key to the Phoenix's true power—and if Kade could help her, it might be their only chance to stop the organization.
But she had learned the hard way that trust came at a price.
"Why should I trust you?" Seojin asked, her voice steady.
"Because we both want the same thing," Kade answered, his eyes locking onto hers. "You want to take down the Phoenix, and I want to destroy the people pulling their strings. We're not so different."
Seojin didn't lower her weapon, but she was listening. The truth of his words rang in her mind.
The Phoenix wasn't just a crime syndicate. It was a network—and if Kade knew how to unravel it, perhaps they could end this.
Kade's men shifted restlessly, watching Seojin for any sign of weakness. But Kade held up his hand. "We have limited time. The Phoenix is already closing in, and if you want the list, we need to move."
Seojin's pulse quickened. The Phoenix was coming. They didn't have a choice.
She exchanged a glance with Hyunwoo and Minji. Both of them were tense, but neither of them seemed ready to take Kade on.
"Fine," Seojin said, lowering her gun slowly. "But don't mistake this for trust. I'm watching you."
Kade smirked. "I wouldn't have it any other way."
Dojin stepped forward. "So what's the plan?"
Kade tilted his head, eyes glinting with something dangerous. "The list is in the Phoenix's central archive. The only way to get to it is through their most secure facility."
Minji raised an eyebrow. "And where's that?"
Kade's smile was cold. "An abandoned military base in the mountains. It's heavily guarded, and only a handful of people know the way in. But I do."
Seojin didn't flinch. "And what do you get out of this?"
Kade's expression hardened. "What I get is none of your concern. But you'll have what you want. The list, and the key to taking down the Phoenix."
Seojin nodded slowly. "We're in. But if you betray us—"
Kade's smile faded. "I wouldn't recommend it."
End of Chapter 62